Clothes lifter



April 15 1924.

- 1,490,837 J. LQHMANN CLOTHES LIFTER Filed July 19. 1923 Patented Apr. 15, 1924.

JOHN LOHIILANN, 0F

CLOTHES Application filed July 19,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN LOHMANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rock Rapids, in the county of Lyon and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clothes Lifters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a novel and improved clothes lifter, and is especially designed to enable the operator to perform the work of removing laundry from boilers and the like easily and efiiciently, and at the same time avoid subjecting the hands to the action of the heated liquid.

The prime object of the invention is to provide a simple, durable, economical and efiective tool or implement for the purposes intended.

Further objects of the invention are to so construct the device as to furnish a sure hold or grasping elfecton the clothes when it is desired to lift and remove the same from a wash boiler or in dyeing establishments where fabrics are immersed in receptacles containing the dye-stuff, and which will prevent soiling of the hands with the water which becomes soiled from the soiled clothing, and at the same time avoid scalding of the hands when the water is at or near the boiling point.

The foregoing and such other objects as may appear from the ensuing description are attained by the construction, arrangement, location and combination of the parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated by the accompanying drawings, and more particularly set forth in the claims appended hereto, it' being understood that slight changes in the proportions and minor details of the precise construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. 7

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification it will be seen that: I

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved device embodying my invention, showing the gripping means in opened position.

Figure 2 is a plan of the device shown in closed condition.

Figure 3 is a central longitudinal section of the device as shown in Fig. 1.

Figure lis a side elevation showing the era STATES mean PATENT oasis.

aocx RAPIDS, IOWA.

LIFTER.

1923. Seria1'No.652,574;

device in its closed or clamping position, and

Figure 5 is a rear end elevation of the implement shown in Fig. 4. i

In the embodiment of my invention as illustrated it will be seen that the novel tool or implement is composed of a minimum of parts the main members of which may be made of any suitable material, preferably of wood, which if desired, may be painted,

oiled or enameled so as to be practically im- I pervious to water, a full size implement be ing. about fifteen inches in length; one and three eighths inches in widtlnwith a guard nine inches in length oneach side, and a spring five inches long and five-eighths of V nut 5, and between the guards 2 is disposed a resilient steel plate bow-shaped spring 6, terminating at its front end with a slightly downwardly extended or bent portion 7, and at its rear end with a downwardly extended flanged portion 8 having an opening formed therethrough for the reception of a suitable set screw or nail 9 whereby said spring plate is rigidly and fixedly secured to the rear end of the base member 1, said spring projecting forwardly with its inner end portion resting in contact with the inner face of the movable member or tongue 3. The inner face of the members 1 and 3 at their outer ends, are provided with a series of suitable transverse teeth or serrations 10, adapted to more surely and effectually grasping the clothes.

It will be readily perceived that by grasping the handle portion 11 around the guards and the rear portion of the movable member 3, said member 3 resting against the inner end of the springplate 6, will be depressed by suitable pressure so that its teeth or serrated inner face 10 will grip the clothes between the toothed faces 10, when they may be easily lifted from the boiler or other receptacle and suitably deposited, and readily released from their grip by releasing the pressure from the handle portion, when the resilient tension of the spring plate wil immediately force the movable member away from the stationary member.

It will also be observed that the guards 2 are adapted to perform the several functions of properly protecting the hands; of

always retaining the plate spring in its nor-V mal position between said guards, and to insure proper alinement of the stationary and movable members under any and all conditions. c

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is a 1. An implement of the character described, comprising a base member, a guard fixedly secured to each side of said member, a movable member pivotally secured between the guards at its rear end portion, and a resilient plate spring disposed between the guards and resting in contact with the inner face of the movable member with its outer end fixedly secured to the rear end of the base member.

2. An implement of the character described, comprising a base member, an upright guard fixedly secured to each side of said member, a movable'member pivotally secured to the guards and between said guards, and a resilient plate spring fixedly secured to the rear end of the base member and disposed between the guards with its inner curved end resting in contact with the inner face of said movable member.

3. An implement of the character described, comprising a base member, an upright guard fixedly secured to each side of said member, a movable member pivotally secured to and between said guards at its outer end, a resilient plate spring disposed between the guards and resting in contact with the inner face of each of said members, means for fixedly securing said plate spring to the rear end of the base membenand gripping meansformed on the inner face at the outer end portion of each of said members.

JOHN Louis ana. 

